Early Postnatal Valproic Acid Exposure Increase the Protein Level of Astrocyte Markers in Frontal Cortex of Rat

Objective: In our previous study, it has been reported that valproic acid (VPA) effects gliogenesis and increases the number of glial precursor cells during the early postnatal period. However there is no specific report that whether this process is going on up to the age of mature brain development and the consequence effect of this ongoing gliogenesis process. Methods: As an ongoing study, using Immunoblotting analysis, we checked the level of glial protein and glial-derived factor markers in the frontal cortex of a rat brain at postnatal day (PND) 21. Results: The finding of the study suggests that, in the VPA group (p<0.05), early exposure elicited significantly to increase the expression level of glial protein cells at PND 21 in the frontal cortex of rat brain. Conclusion: Therefore we suggest that, alter gliogenesis and abnormal number of glial cells modulate the neurobiological dysfunction and induces the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders.